|
Churches & Christianity - In Lebanon & Syria By the time the Emperor Constantine gave official recognition to Christianity, increasingly encouraging it as the state religion, Lebanon & Syria (and particularly Antioch) were already in an area of intense Christian activity going back as far as the missions of St. Paul in the mid first century. The following program shows what left out of that era, which is still, a part of public culture & life. In 10 days-9 nights program - 2007 Day 1 = Arrival Beirut Arrival Beirut Airport, meet & assist, transfer to hotel in Beirut.. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2 = Beirut – Broummana - Khounchara Visit of Beirut: (a) The Greek-Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George (1767). (b) The Greek-Catholic Cathedral of Saint Elias (19th century). (c) The Saint Louis Church of Capucins (1863). (d) The Evangelical Church (1867). (e) The Maronite Cathedral of Saint George (1888). Drive east towards Metn to visit the Maronite Convent of Deir El-Qalaa in Beitmery, which was built in the 13th century then to Broummana. Proceed to visit Mar Elias Chouaia church and the iconostasis offered by the prince of Valachie in the beginning of the 18th century. Drive to the village of Khounchara to visit the Greek-Catholic convent of Saint Jean of Choueir which includes the 1st printer of the Arab world that printed the book “the Balance of Time” in 1734. The convent has three churches among them is the Church of Saint Jean-Baptist where you will see beautiful icons, one of them is the icon of Saint Nicolas (18th century). Dinner and Overnight in Beirut
Day 3 = Harissa – Bkerki – Annaya - Byblos - Tripoli Drive to Jounieh and get the cable car up to the outstretched arms of the Virgin of Lebanon in Harissa. Visit Bkerki, center of the Maronite Patriarchate of Lebanon. Back to the coast and drive to the village of Annaya to visit the hermitage of Saint Charbel, who has been canonized in October 1977. The body of the Saint remains intact, and it still oozes blood. Descend back to coast towards Byblos: The oldest continuously inhabited town in the world. Visit the Crusaders’ castle (12th century) and its small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Door located at the foot of the castle; the ancient Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist; the baptistery which stands against the cathedral; and the Orthodox chapel to the west dating back to the Byzantine period. Proceed to Tripoli for dinner overnight.
Day 4 = Tripoli – Balamand – Krak des Chevaliers - Homs City tour of Tripoli to visit the Crusaders’ Forstress of Saint Gilles (12-13th centuries), as well as other ancient sites, old souks, khans and bazaars. Proceed to visit the Balamand, a Greek Orthodox, very well restored monastery, founded in 1157, that includes a fine collection of icons. Cross the borders with Syria and drive to visit Krac des Chevaliers Castle and St. Sergius Monastery. Dinner and overnight in Homs.
Day 5 = Homs – Aleppo – St Simeon - Aleppo Transfer to Aleppo and visiting on the way the Dead Cities: Serjielh and St. Simeon Church. Dinner and overnight in Aleppo.
Day 6 = Aleppo Full day sightseeing of Aleppo including visits to the Christian quarter of Jdiede. Dinner and Overnight in Aleppo.
Day 7 = Aleppo – Palmyra Transfer to Palmyra for a visit including the Temple of Bel, the Colonnaded Street, and the Arch of Triumph, the Theater, the Necropolis and the Byzantine Church, . Dinner and overnight in Palmyra.
Day 8 = Palmyra – Maaloula - Seidnaya - Damascus Drive to Damascus, visiting en route the monasteries of St. Tekla and St. Segius of Maloula, one of the most beautiful and picturesque villages in the region (60km from Damascus) and 1300 meters above sea level. It is said to be the first monastery in Christianity, and the unique thing is that the inhabitants still speak Aramaic (the language in which Christ preached and addressed his pupils). Proceed to visit Sednaya, (our Lady, Notre Dame), built on top of a rocky hill 1400 meters above sea level. It is most famous for its convent of Our Lady of Saidaya, one of the most in the Middle East. It has very impressive castle-like walls. It is a place of pilgrimage for many Christian sects. It was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD in memory of a miraculous vision he had during a hunt in the area. The monastery contains important icons attributed to being painted by St. Luke. Continue to visit the Christian quarter of Damascus including Bab Sharqi and Bab Touma where you are going to visit St. Paul's Window and St. Ananias Chapel. Dinner overnight in Damascus. Day 9 = Damascus – Baalbeck - BeirutDrive to Lebanon and proceed through Beqaa Valley to visit Baalbeck, where the greatest Roman temples in the world. When Christianity was declared an official religion of the Roman Empire in 313 AD., Byzantine Emperor Constantine officially closed the Baalbeck temples. At the end of the 4th century, the Emperor Theodosius tore down the altars of Jupiter’s Great Court and built a basilica using the temple’s stones and architecture elements. Cross Mount Lebanon and descend towards the capital for dinner overnight.
Day 10 = Beirut Departure Transfer departure Beirut Airport.
Price per person in sharing double room on Half Board basis in US Dollars
Low & High Season for Hotels BeirutL:
Hotels used:
This price includes: · Meet and assist at Beirut airport on arrival and departure · Meet and assist on borders on arrival and departure · Transfers A/P-HTL-A/P · Transportation by private vehicle for the excursions in Lebanon and Syria according to Group size (different coach in each country) · Bilingual guide in Lebanon and Syria for the excursions according to groups’ nationality (different guide in each country) · Entrance fees to the visited sites · Hotel accommodation in Lebanon for 4 nights at the above mentioned hotels in sharing double room on Half Board basis · Hotel accommodation in Syria for 5 nights at the above mentioned hotels in sharing double room on Half baord basis · One free tour leader in sharing double room for 15 paying pax and over · VAT 10% on Lebanon Services only at present time.
Price does not include: · Visa to Lebanon: $ 17 per person for more than 48 Hours. Free of charge for a stay of less than 48 hours. · Visa to Syria. For individuals, they should obtain their visa in Syria. For Groups of 8 pax and over, visa free of charge. · Lunches during the excursions · Drinks with the dinners · Extras and personal expenses · Tips to the guide and driver
Validity: This offer is valid till 31 December 2007
Note : if German guide is requested, kindly note thate is a supplement of $ 110 for the whole stay to be divided according to group size |